Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Norfolk leads 11 of 20 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,621)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $29k less ($254,200 vs $283,300)
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Palm Coast by $7,826/yr
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $7,826 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Norfolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$29k less
$254,200 vs $283,300
Palm Coast
Median Income
$7,826
$68,824 vs $60,998/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 11 of 20 categories. Norfolk wins 11 and Palm Coast wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Norfolk to Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $283,300 median home), income ($60,998 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Palm Coast, FL are about 586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.